The game’s only goal came from a penalty, needlessly given away by reserve goalkeeper Stuart Taylor in the ninth minute.

Meanwhile, City chief executive Garry Cook has admitted regrets at
the way he handled his early months in the job, notably his claim that
AC Milan had ‘bottled it’ over the proposed sale of Kaka to the
Eastlands club.

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‘I underestimated the damage and the impact that comments can have on the entire club,’ said Cook.

‘I haven’t changed my ambition and my goals and my confidence, even though sometimes that is deemed to be arrogance.

‘But do I regret some things I’ve said? And have I made mistakes? Yes. That’s how you learn.’

If City are taking time to become a genuine Premier League force,
then Cook believes last month’s derby at Old Trafford was a huge step
in the right direction.

City may have lost 4-3 but the game featured Carlos Tevez, a player
taken from United at great expense, and was preceded by a billboard
campaign that infuriated United.

The ‘Welcome to Manchester’ poster featuring Tevez prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to describe City as a ‘noisy neighbour’.

Net return: Mohamed Al-Shihi celebrates scoring from the penalty spot

Cook said: ‘We didn’t quite think it was going to happen, that
impact. But this club has a personality — it’s young, fresh, there’s
humour and the poster wasn’t meant vindictively.’

Soon Cook hopes to be side by side with United in the Champions League.

‘Everybody goes to United and hopes they can beat one of the great
teams,’ he said. ‘I want people to come to Manchester City and fear the
club. There’s a good opportunity to reach the Champions League, the
best for a long time.’

Big name: Pablo Zabaleta was only one of three first-team players in a young City side

And if that puts even greater pressure on Hughes, Cook feels the manager has already shown he can cope.

‘I don’t think I have seen anyone handle themselves in public with such dignity and integrity as Mark Hughes,’ he said.

‘Alex Ferguson has a mental strength that is different to your
average person and Mark Hughes has it, too. If they share anything then
that’s it.’